A soldier and mom returns early from a tour of duty in Middle East and surprises her second-grader at school.

A soldier and mom returns early from a tour of duty in Middle East and surprises her second-grader at school.

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Updated: 5:41 PM CDT Apr 29, 2015

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WEBVTT LARA: YOU STILL HAVE SOME TIME. THE SCAVENGER HUNT LASTS UNTIL 6:00. KELLY: A SECOND GRADER IN THE PARK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT NEVER SAW IT COMING. LARA: HER MOTHER, A U.S. ARMY OFFICER, SNEAKING UP ON HER THIS MORNING, HOME FROM A TOUR OF DUTY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. KMBC 9'S MARTIN AUGUSTINE THERE TO SHOW US. MARTIN: LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE PRECIOUS MOMENT ALMOST A YEAR IN THE MAKING. HEY, BABY. MARTIN: IT'S A REUNION SCENE SENDING RIPPLES OF JOY AND EMOTION THROUGHOUT THE SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM OF CHINN ELEMENTARY. BUT THIS REUNION OF FIRST LIEUTENANT FAWN HEITMAN AND HER EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, MORGAN, ONLY CAME TOGETHER AT THE LAST MINUTE, FAWN UNEXPECTEDLY CATCHING A FLIGHT HOME FROM KUWAIT THREE DAYS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. FIRST THING THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND IS -- SHE'S GETTING SO BIG AND SO BEAUTIFUL. I MISSED HER SO MUCH. I GET TO GET YOU A HUG. MARTIN: YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE MORGAN'S CALM. EVEN WHEN NEWS CAMERAS CAME IN TO HER ROOM, SHE WAS UNFLAPPABLE. HER MOM WASN'T DUE HOME FOR A COUPLE MORE DAYS, SO SHE DIDN'T SUSPECT ANYTHING. BUT SOME OF THAT CALM COMES FROM EXPERIENCE. SHE'S SPENT MUCH OF HER YOUNG LIFE WITH ARMY PARENTS OVERSEAS. HER FATHER, DEPLOYED TO IRAQ FIVE TIMES, AFGHANISTAN TWICE. BUT DON'T CONFUSE CALM WITH JOY. REALLY HAPPY, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN MY MOMMY IN A WHILE. MARTIN: SO LET'S WATCH THIS AGAIN -- IT'S TOO GOOD NOT TO -- AND THINK BACK FOR A MOMENT. WHO HASN'T FELT BETTER WHEN MOM COMES HOME? MARTIN AUGUSTINE, KMBC 9 NEWS. LARA: MORGAN GOT TO GO HOME FROM SCHOOL EARLY TODAY. SHE'LL SPEND THE NEXT COUPLE OF

Returning soldier surprises daughter at school

A soldier and mom returns early from a tour of duty in Middle East and surprises her second-grader at school.